The appearance of a massive rat, dubbed Ratzilla, in a Stockholm family's kitchen has made headlines in Sweden. Measuring 40cm (nearly 16in) plus tail, the creature terrified the family three weeks ago. The rat entered the kitchen via a ventilation pipe, having gnawed its way through cement and wood. Even the family cat had refused to enter the kitchen while the giant rat was in residence. After devouring food leftovers under the sink, the creature feasted on a Swedish smorgasbord of waste in the bin. Pest controllers finally killed the intruder using an oversized trap. After taking a few souvenir photos, the family contacted a website to see if they were interested in the story. The country's news reported on the size of the rat. From there, the story escalated.

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Humans and rats have been living together for centuries. Our homes make ideal shelters for the furry creatures too. Considered by many to be a pest and by some as a pet, they have survived through the years by their wits and genetic make up. Who could forget Michael Jackson's song 'Ben'? There are two species of rat that live closer to humans than any other species. One is the black rat, originating in India. The small black rat prefers to live in tropical areas. This species came to England and America by stowing away on ships. The black rat prefers living above ground in trees or the top levels of buildings, earning it the nicknames of the roof rat and the tree rat. The second more commonly seen species is the Norway rat, or brown rat as some call it. Originating in Russia, the Norway rat is also the species most commonly bred as pets and also grown for snake food. It is larger and better at adapting to different environments than the black rat. The Norway rat entered America around 1775 in the same manner as the Black rat, onboard ships. Many people assume all rats are or were the carriers of the black plague which killed thousands of people. However, the fleas on the black rat carried the disease. People during that time lived in what we would nowadays consider unsanitary conditions. The opportunist rat invaded these areas for free board and lodgings, thus bringing with it the diseased flea.

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Rats invaded our larder cupboard a few years ago. We live in one of a strip of cottages bordered by horse fields. The destructive creatures entered through the ventilation duct between the outer and inner cavity of the kitchen wall. My husband and I found the experience quite terrifying. We never knew if one would be waiting to scurry out when we opened the larder door. The local council sent an extermination specialist around and the rats went away. I hate to think of the animals dying in agony. They are only little creatures looking for something to eat. But I didn't want them to feast in my larder, and bite through all the cardboard and plastic packets and leave their droppings amongst the litter. Some cultures even consider the rat a very special creature. The Japanese, the Hindus, and the Chinese all believe the rat is a sign of wealth and prosperity. In Deshnoke, India there is a temple in which thousands of rats are fed and taken care of. The Hindus believe these rats are reincarnations of their gods. The human species and the rat have had a relationship throughout history. People are discovering their pet rat's great capacity to love and to learn. Even if you find the rat to be a gross disgusting creature, it is hard to not respect an animal with so much intelligence. The rat is truly a survivalist. Love them or hate them, rats are here to stay.

I'm sort of sad that he survived for so long and even ate cement, only to be killed by pest control with an oversized trap. It's a real shame that he couldn't have been moved to some preserve or something. That said, I certainly would not want to find him in my house. He's definitely scary.

Thanks, also, for the info on rats. When I teach Shakespeare, I always make it a point to explain that it was NOT the rats, but rather the fleas on the rats, that carried the plague. Now, I'll add that it was fleas on the black rats. Thanks.